It's Vintage, Darling!

In the recent year or two I have discovered the fun of second-hand shopping. Vintage & retro shops, antique outlets, thrift stores, St Vinnie's, Salvation Army's outlet, vintage sellers at weekend markets... As different as they may seem in terms of what they sell and their price tags, the interesting thing is that you often end up finding the same group of customers at these places. They are vintage shoppers, people who are constantly searching for that one-of-a-kind vintage dress or a pair of brand-new Yves Saint Laurent pumps.
Vintage stores are full of surprises. They stock everything from a 1920's compact mirror and a 1950's sundress to the 60's mini skirt and 1980's leather jacket. You can literally lose yourself among endless racks of clothes and shoes and jeweleries because every piece is so different. Every visit to a vintage store or a thrift shop is a treasure hunt. It's like going into a fashion museum and a style school that opens up a world of fashion history, fabrics and styles.
It is true that you are most likely to leave a shop empty handed. Many of the clothes are not so wearable and it takes a long time to find something you like. But that's where the fun is. And once you have experienced the thrill of making the first purchase, you just can't help but go back for more.

Hey Hey It's Yesterday - a charity shop that I have come to love. Sell mostly second-hand clothes and accessories as well as the odd pieces of cookware, books and albums. Goods are nicely arranged in clearly labeled sections. Accepts donation 7 days a week. Proceeds are dedicated to help the Friends of Brain Injured Children of Qld. Today I went to the Paddington Antiques Centre Vintage Fashion Weekend at the Paddington Antiques Centre. It is located in the former Plaza Theatre building, which gives the store a lovely historical atmosphere. They sell almost anything you can think of, furniture, jeweleries, buttons, musical instruments, artwork, clothing, kitchenware, cameras, etc.